The Chiefs reserve hooker cut a confused then forlorn figure at the Sydney Football Stadium on February 20.
Amid the din, de Malmanche could not find his lineout jumpers after Stephen Donald offered a last minute lifeline with a raking touch finder deep into Waratahs territory, with his side four points down.
Indeed de Malmanche virtually conceded defeat, flipping the ball in the general direction of his lineout formation as the Chiefs conceded a free-kick.
That communication breakdown allowed the Waratahs to cling onto an 11-7 advantage -- a scoreline that bore little resemblance to their domination of the set piece.
While that botched lineout was humiliating, it simply compounded a diabolical performance from a scrum that was splintered at will.
The margin of defeat may have been slender but as the Chiefs tight five were scrutinised it seemed an Achilles heel was revealed -- a deficiency to undermine one of the most potent back divisions in the competition.
Chiefs assistant coach Craig Stevenson, a former Waikato prop, shared the frustration but did not have any long term misgivings about a front and second row that had a solitary All Black test cap between them.
"We looked at that game and realised we did a number of things wrong collectively," Stevenson said ahead of tonight's semifinal with the Hurricanes at Waikato Stadium.
"All it took was a little bit of video review and work on the training park with the guys' technique."
All Blacks scrum guru Mike Cron happened to be doing the rounds as the post mortem was performed, and was also optimistic after conducting a 30-minute tune-up.
"It was stuff we'd already picked up on but he gave the boys some reassurance that we were doing well."
Since that shambolic second round performance, the Chiefs' tight five have atoned on a weekly basis.
"We've improved out of sight since that game," Stevenson smiled.
"We knew you couldn't get to this stage of the competition if your scrum and your set piece isn't working."
Stevenson said the pack's preparations started in November, pretty much from ground zero in terms of the front row.
Props Simms Davison and Ben Castle had ventured overseas, as had hooker Tom Willis.
The loose forward trio might have remained intact but the engine room lost the grunt of Jono Gibbes and Kristian Ormsby, giving former Cantabs Kevin O'Neill and Craig Clarke the opportunity to establish themselves in the second row.
Up front was the chief concern, however.
New recruits Sona Taumololo and James McGougan were untried at Super level but have grown in stature, especially the latter at tighthead.
De Malmanche has also enjoyed better days since his ordeal across the Tasman.
His superior scrummaging ability has relegated Hika Elliot to the impact role and the 24-year-old, who has covered prop in the past, is thriving as a specialist hooker.
"It's there to be seen how he's improved. He's knocking on the door of All Black status," Stevenson said.
"He'd say he needed to focus on the one core job, and he's worked extremely hard at improving his throwing."
That facet of his game is not yet blemish-free but there is no doubting his physical presence as the Chiefs confront an All Black front row of John Schwalger, Andrew Hore and Neemia Tialata.
"I've really enjoyed playing one position," de Malmanche said, glad to be free of Willis' shadow.
"Tom was one of the leaders so I didn't get a lot of minutes," he said.
"I haven't got the same sort of flair as Sione (Lauaki) but I'm a good ball carrier with good leg drive. I enjoy making the advantage line."
